Proposal ties lawmaker pay to state unemployment figures
The General Assembly Compensation Commission report landed on Senate desks this morning with a resounding thud.
Their proposal says lawmakers salaries should be frozen for two years unless the economy improves and gives each lawmaker a $150 bump for in-district travel allowances. The 188 state lawmakers earn at least $43,000 a year, and those in leadership earn more.
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller said the prospects were dim that lawmakers would support anything resembling a pay raise for in an election year as they furlough state workers.
“I’m confident they’ll reject it,” Miller told reporters this morning.
The proposal gives lawmakers a $2,000 pay bump Jan. 1, 2013 only if the number of people on the state unemployment figure drops to five percent or less. If that doesn’t happen their salaries remain frozen, but they have another chance for a raise in 2014 - again only unemployment gets to five percent.
Preliminary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Maryland with an unemployment rate of 7.4 percent as of Nov. 2009.
The Sun’s Laura Smitherman has written about a separate commission that recommended a $10,000 pay raise for Gov. Martin O’Malley.
Their proposal says lawmakers salaries should be frozen for two years unless the economy improves and gives each lawmaker a $150 bump for in-district travel allowances. The 188 state lawmakers earn at least $43,000 a year, and those in leadership earn more.
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller said the prospects were dim that lawmakers would support anything resembling a pay raise for in an election year as they furlough state workers.
“I’m confident they’ll reject it,” Miller told reporters this morning.
The proposal gives lawmakers a $2,000 pay bump Jan. 1, 2013 only if the number of people on the state unemployment figure drops to five percent or less. If that doesn’t happen their salaries remain frozen, but they have another chance for a raise in 2014 - again only unemployment gets to five percent.
Preliminary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Maryland with an unemployment rate of 7.4 percent as of Nov. 2009.
The Sun’s Laura Smitherman has written about a separate commission that recommended a $10,000 pay raise for Gov. Martin O’Malley.
Comments
Maryland needs to cut unemployment, not extend it. Extending it offers no incentive to work or find a job. My ex-roommate has been on unemployment for over a year. He uses the free money he gets through unemployment to gamble with. It's truly disgusting.
Posted by: Sean O'Donnell, Baltimore Republican Examiner | January 21, 2010 12:09 PM
Part time employees with such generous benefits/ pensions do not need a pay raise.
Not now, not ever.
Period.
The people of Maryland need to retake this state ala the people of Mass. did on Tuesday.
Business as usual needs to end.
We need to send a strong signal to the ruling trioka in Annapolis.
Posted by: jay | January 21, 2010 12:31 PM
Then they just kick everyone off the roles. People will be worse off as they will not have a job or unemployment and the tax man will get a raise = stupid idea!
Posted by: Melissa K | January 21, 2010 12:32 PM
I'm sick of the whole political set up in MD. All I can say is don't get too comfortable Dems. Remember Massachusetts!
As in any job, if you are not successful, you don't get a raise. Neither should they or O'Malley. When you start getting the job done, they fine but only if its reasonable.
Also, I'm sick of this socialist path our country in currently on. I work hard for what little money I make and want to keep it! Those who work hard should! If you want to sit on your butt and not apply yourself, then don't expect a government check either. That kind of thinking is sinking our country! Freedom and opportunity! Not opportunist!
Posted by: Stephanie | January 21, 2010 1:31 PM
Humans I IMPLORE you to call Annapolis and Shut The Phone
Lines Down!!!
Dumbs & Repukes: SHOW OUR ANGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Some Delegates:
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3021 (toll free) Ali
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3291 (toll free) Anderson
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3001 (toll free) Barkley
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3370 (toll free) Beidle
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3205 (toll free) Bobo
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3800 (toll free) FAT cat Mike Busch
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3047 (toll free) Dwyer
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3439 (toll free) R. George
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3181 (toll free) Gutierrez
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3801 (toll free) Haynes
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3469 (toll free) Hixson
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3240 (toll free) Jenkins
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3485 (toll free) Kramer
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3101 (toll free) G. Levi
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3431 (toll free) Mathias
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3319 (toll free) McHale
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3372 (toll free) PIG Sophocleus
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3488 (toll free) Vallario, Jr
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3328 (toll free) Weir, Jr.
If you can call and talk about drivel, you can call the people who regulate YOUR MONEY, and tell them They better NOT take any money.
Do I need to post the Senators or can you take some initiative and do that on your OWN????????!!
Or shall we continue to be wusses and sit back and do NOTHING????!!!!!!
This ain't about a political party; there is only one party. The party of contempt for the Voter and it is held in Annapolis!!!!!!!! on every level
Posted by: Sick&Tired | January 21, 2010 1:35 PM
We need to create entirely new jobs for many of those that have been lost completely. This will take time, energy, industriousness. It will not be easy!
Posted by: david wayne osedach | January 21, 2010 6:55 PM
A raise? - you have got to be kidding? Given the performance of this legislature, they all should be taking pay cuts! Better yet, lets put them out of a job. They are probably working right now on making sure they qualify for unemployment benefits.
Posted by: pudder2 | January 21, 2010 9:59 PM
It's not the Government's mandate to create jobs. Government is to protect the citizens and get out of the way of commerce. To tie legislators pay to the state of the economy will guarantee more government intervention into private industry as the pols attempt to protect their raises. This proposal is a horrible idea and the economy will suffer for it as will all hard working Marylander citizens who aren't independently wealthy
Posted by: Art | January 21, 2010 10:51 PM